Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-01-15
The Old Ballet-Master's Dream.
By Philip }. saaburn.

the old hair-clOth sofa In his little man
sard room, and looked meditAtively out
OF the open window over the green trees
and the glinting roofs Of the city. Be
fore him on the table lay a number Of /
gold rings, embroidered tobacco pouches, /
and other little trinkets, and beside them |
q sheet Of paper almost covered with |
writing. But now at the end OF his task |
the writer seemed 30 be in doubt about /
somsshing. Several times he lowered I
his gray head, which was circled with |
curl papers, dainty laid the little finger
Of his left hand on the upper part OF the [
ahest Of paper to hold it firm, aud raised
his pen-but each time let it drop again
half dOubhnlly, and fell to looking out
the window once more. And this was
the sole cause OF his indscison: The
enninently respected Charles Tricotini,
the author OF q new and able book on
plain and fancy dancing, the present
ballet master OF the Grand Italian opera
house, where his irreprOachable piroutet-
tes had first enrsptured the aristOcraey
Of Quality Hill years before-Oharles
TricOtini was making his will
He hRd Just written several sections,
In which be bequeathed to his old land
lady most Of his small possessions, con
gisting of trinkets Of ali descriptions and
Valae. he now came to the most I'M
portant part. What directions should he
leave for the disposition OF his remains,
aud the costume IN which he Was to be
buried3
Deep stiffness reigned in the low
chamber. Only from time to time there
came from one Of the lower stories the
faint sound Of q piano, on which childish
hands were practicing a Strauss waltz.
An old-faahiOned clock on the mantel
struck four-stin plenty OF time till the
evening performance, for the old ballet
master still devoted himself to his life
work with enthusiasm
He laid down his pen and thoughtfaly
looked at his little heap Of treasures,
which in q certain way told the story of
his life. The heavy old fashioned watch
had once belonged to his father; the
diamond ring had been presented to him
by French prince soon after he made
his great triumphal debut, and long be-
fore he came to America.
Then the heavily chased gold watch
was the gift OF his stage comrades-the
good old boys and girls!-and finally
the little plain medalhonl He involun-
y
grew Mcdaniel the delicate, ten
der Melaine, With the glorious eyes,
once the most promising Of the corps
and-then he tried to crowd down the
rising host Of painful recOllectiOns.
Still another gift lay on the table,
book gorgeously bound 10 blue and gold.
To the honor Of its pOssessOr let 1t be
Haid that IL was q scientific work. And
yet it you'd not be right to conceal the
fact that Mr.. Charles TricOtini had never
rsad IN it more than five minutes in his
life and then less On account Of its con-
tents than because Of the agreeable sky
blue binding, upon which two gllded
comets were Plunging toward each other
in wild celestial tourney. The ballet
MASTER took up the book from the table
and buried himself In the mysteries OF
the sun and moon. The warm spring
breeze coming IN at the window, the
stiffness and his previous mental exer-
tons were not without their effect upon
the old man. When he had read some
time his eyes gradually closed; he gent
y sank back On the sofa; the book fell
from his handi and strange feeling of
hghtLess came over him. He felt as if
ali his earthly parts had dropped away
from him, and he was a OOdlless being
there on the sofa. Suddenly the door
opened, and a graceful angel in rose
game dress and white dancing slippers
glided in, and neared her old instructor
yes, it was she, as she must have
looked as a young girl--Melainel She
took him lovingly by the hand and they
Few out Of the open window together
into the broad blue ether.
At will show you a new field for youI
talents" said the angsl-maiden, and the
old master followed her. With astonish-
1nent he saw how the city and villages
disappeared below them, and the earth
itself seemed gradually to sink away in
10 the airy abyss. AS it retreated farth-
sr and farther into the neither distance, il
assumed more and more human form
They few higher and higher, and now
ave are at our journeys end" said
the angel, as they swept through high
gate OF clouds. All around within was a
sort Of balcony. The tWofew up to this,
and as soon as the ballet-master felt solid
ground benesth him, he looked down in
amazsment at the strange tumult at their
feet. 1t was great ball-a gigantic
qUadrille was being danced by the heav-
emily bodies under niyriads Of cleaning
lights to the thunder-tones OF the un-
csasing music OF the spheres. In the
midst OF the great hall danced the plei-
ades, graceful, fitting forms OF enrap-
turing comehness. Not far from them
moved a stately old gentleman with
puffed-out cheeks. HIS face was red
With e1ertiOn, and yellow silk ribbons
huttered every where from his clothes
hksrays.
ssTbat is the sun, exclaimed Melaine
send the gay little maiden over there Is
the earth. Sea how her old suitor, the
neon, is making love to her"
So the angel pointed out ali the nota-
bles. Here Mars and Venus circle IN q
Wild, Whirling dance, their Saturn moved
nnajestically with calm measured steps
A thick ''ring'' OF admirers were con
stantly around him. Through the bust
ling crowd shot couple OF comets with
long glowing tailed dress coats They
served refreshments on golden plates.
Monsieur IEcOtini became very en-
thusiastie over the accuracy with which
the most difficult ballet figures were exc
euted, as he locked down the whirling
figures. They were Just beginning the
ehaine anglaise when, with a shocking
sense OF horror, the ballet master saw an
exquisite little Pieiad offer her partner
the wrong hand
a,rhe LETT haudl The left handP' he
Srlsd intuitiVely, but no one needed his
cry. He sprang down among the dancers
and rushed into the midst Of the qua
rrflfa 4 karrflla k1rrorffE fo1Ioua7 Tiba~